There are too many lives that could be negatively affected in this, and the surrounding communities for this to be a viable project. Traffic is already thick and would naturally worsen even with “exclusive off/on ramps.” Crime would undoubtedly expand exponentially with the influx of those struggling with addiction issues.

Community character, family values, property values, quality of life, sense of security, and existing local businesses could all be compromised beyond recovery.

This is not the middle of the woods with no developed community like areas of Connecticut – this is family land with hard working, honest people. Generations raising their families as best they can. I am neither willing nor able to sit idly by while a national gaming conglomerate dismisses our needs and opinions, or affronts our sensibilities in the name of profit, leaving us with decimated home values that have already been assaulted and worn away.

People from all backgrounds and histories frequent casinos. Sadly a sizeable portion of these people are not the kind we want invited into our midst, nor do they belong here.

No one here is interested in becoming a natural target for home invasions and break-ins to support drug habits and gambling debts.

We need a stronger voice to make sure we protect our families, our children, our neighbors, our communities, and our way of life.

I sincerely hope indifference does not become the Achilles heal of this region, and I hope this message is passed along to those in the surrounding communities so they may be encouraged to voice their concerns and express their opinions.

We are a nation of people with opinions that mean something – our lives matter.

Finally, I ask these questions: What would all of you want to leave as your legacy? And what will you tell the next generation was your part in what will come?

As a resident of Milford, I do not think a casino is what we need for this town. There are enough safety and traffic problems and adding a casino would only cause more of that. Not only that, but there is no room for one anyways. Go put the casino somewhere else, like Boston.

I don’t see any positives besides a few local jobs. What good comes from excess traffic and people who will probably not frequent our local businesses? Milford has done an excellent job of maintaining a balanced commercial and residential base, but a casino has the potential to tear both of these strengths down.

As a life long resident of Milford, I am afraid of seeing my life, as well as other residents of the town, lessen in quality. Putting a casino in Milford will do exactly this. It does not create desirable jobs, will slowly drain the life out of other local businesses, and create in the town a sense of negative living.

Property value would eventually go down, while crime would continue to climb in rate. As it stands now, Milford is already a mess that needs desperately to pick itself up. Furthermore, casinos absolutely do not belong in suburban towns, especially in one so densely populated as Milford is. Milford is by no means a remote location; what little open space we do have left should be preserved, or at the very least should be used for something that will improve the quality of living and serve the town in a positive way. I can say with the upmost confidence that a casino will not bring that, and that I will stick to a vehement ‘NO’ in my opposition of this outrageous proposal.

Milford was a quiet bedroom community when my family and I moved here over 20 years ago. Sadly, in the last few years, I have watched this community change. We have had more than our share of high profile crimes take the national spotlight. A casino will not make these problems any better. Add to that, the damage to competing businesses, (i.e. restaurants, hotels, etc…), the cost of infrastructure and law enforcement and the steep toll of gambling addiction and it’s treatment…. It’s obvious that gambling will take far more out of our community and our economy than it will put in.